MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: December 21, 2006
Status Report
1. Prince George's County Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Outcomes Meeting
Staff, accompanied by EDC Chairman Raymond Skinner, BAPB Chairman Ron Skotz,
and several members of the EDC, attended the Prince George’s County
Base Realignment and Closure Outcomes meeting on Monday, December 18th
at the Prince George’s County EDC offices in Largo. Discussion included
the BRAC process and what it means for Prince George’s County. The
County’s next step is to form a coordinating committee to oversee
continuing BRAC efforts. Staff will continue to follow this matter.
2. Bowie Gets Seafood Restaurant
By now, you may have noticed that "Tony Roma's" is closed and that
a new restaurant has a banner up announcing their arrival: "Bistro Fish
Seafood Bar & Grille". The new restaurant will be open in early
2007. Staff will continue to work with them to assist in their occupancy
and opening. This opening will fulfill a long expressed desire for a seafood
restaurant in Bowie.
3.
Variance Appeal BV-4-06 – 12214 Rolling Hill Lane
On December 15th, the City received a request from Ms. Sylvia Covington
to appeal the Bowie Advisory Planning Board's (BAPB) denial of variance
application
BV-4-06. Ms. Covington had requested a lot coverage variance of 4% to construct
a screened porch. The BAPB resolution and the staff report were transmitted
to you on December 17th. It is anticipated that this case will be on Council’s
January 16, 2007 agenda, though confirmation from the applicant is pending.
4. District 1 Council Vacancy
As of today, two applications have been received: James Marcos and Edward
Leyden.
5. Route 197 Signals
Our Public Works Department has been in regular contact with the State Highway
Administration (SHA) regarding proposed improvements to the Gallant Fox
signal, including interconnection of all the signals in this area. To this
point, SHA has interconnected the Gallant Fox signal with the relocated
Route 450 signal. This has helped in eliminating the problem with the Gallant
Fox signal stopping southbound Route 197 traffic shortly after they receive
a green signal at relocated Route 450.
Public Works observed the operation of the Gallant Fox signal earlier this
week and determined that a significant number of northbound drivers are still
running the red light to turn left into Gallant Fox. Part of the reason is
that the visibility of the red signal faces is blocked by large Verizon wires.
To help alleviate this, SHA lowered the signal faces a few inches. They are
still concerned about the visibility from higher vehicles, such as SUV's.
Accordingly, Verizon has agreed to tighten up some of the slack in their
lines, which should raise their cables above the red light displays.
Another reason that northbound Route 197 drivers may be running the left
turn red signal into Gallant Fox may be because they often have to wait over
two minutes for the left turn signal to turn green, because it is interconnected
to the relocated Route 450 signal, which has a long cycle length. This extended
wait, combined with long gaps in the southbound Route 197 traffic presents
too much of a temptation to skip through the red light to Gallant Fox.
To address the above issue, SHA is planning a different type of phasing for
the Gallant Fox signal. During periods of low volume, northbound Route 197
traffic turning left to Gallant Fox will see a flashing red signal. This
will allow them to legally cross during gaps in the southbound Route 197
traffic. Southbound Route 197 traffic will see a green signal during these
low volume periods. During periods of high volume, the signal will be able
to determine that a northbound left turning vehicle has had to wait too long
and will switch from flashing red to a green signal. This should allow all
vehicles backed up in the left turn lane to clear the intersection. Of course,
at the same time, southbound Route 197 traffic will receive a red signal.
This work is not yet scheduled.
Interconnection of the signals at Old Route 450 and at Tulip Grove Drive
is expected to begin in June of 2007. In addition, over the next few months,
SHA is going to be performing a signal optimization study of the signals
along Route 450, as well as the signals at Gallant Fox, Old Route 450 and
Tulip Grove Drive. This should help traffic flow throughout this area.
Attachments